Joan Daily Bell

Joan Daily Bell of Raleigh, NC passed away on Monday, October 19, 2026 at the age of 91. She was born in Washington, DC on March 30, 1935 to Sadie “Sally” Burke and was lovingly raised by Sally and Ralph “Pat” Daily.

Joan met her husband, Joseph “Joe” Wheeler Bell, Jr. at Suitland High School and they quickly became high school sweethearts. They bonded over both being born and growing up in Georgetown in Washington, DC during WWII. They were married three months after they graduated.

They were blessed with 72 years of marriage, 5 beautiful daughters, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

Their senior yearbook listed Joan’s ambition as “marriage” and she not only fulfilled that ambition but exceeded at it. She worked at Chestnut Farms Dairy until she became a full-time housewife and mother. After her girls were grown, she worked as a receptionist at a doctor’s office for several years.

Joan was a woman of faith and was devoted to her church, Immanuel United Methodist Church in Annandale, VA. She sang in the choir, held many committee positions, was President of the UMW, led Pastor Parish Relations, and chaperoned many handbell trips. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and volunteered at Ravensworth Elementary School regularly. She was very patriotic, always flew the flag and worked at the polls for every election. She had passion for music, reading, playing games with Joe, friends, her girls, and her grandchildren.

Holidays were very important to Joan and she instilled the tradition of family gatherings in her daughters. Joan’s smile and positive personality were infectious. She never met a stranger and always remained dedicated to her friends, especially her church “gang.”

She was predeceased by Joe on January 17, 2026 as well as her mother, Sally Daily; her sister, Sue Daily Loveless; and a host of family and friends.

She is survived by her father, Pat Daily (almost 102 years old); her daughters, Joanne, Jeanine, Jeanette (Leon), Jami (Steve), and Jodi; her grandchildren, Teresa (Brett), Benjamin (Carmen), Michael, Bradley, Lee, Matthew (Megan), Jonathan (Haley), Kelly, Nathan (Mariah), Ryan, and Patrick (Savannah); her great-grandchildren, Amelia, Elizabeth, Daniel, Leo, Magnolia, and Amin; and her nieces who she considered daughters, Kathy and Amy.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am, on Monday, November 16th, 2026, at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, 8501 Honeycutt Road, Raleigh, NC 27615. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Joan’s honor to the Methodist Home for Children (mhfc.org).

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